**Disclaimer: This latest selection of rants and raves may be slightly more ranty than usual. I’m writing this after spending most of the day in bed with a migraine. I’ve said it before, but sometimes when life isn’t a bed of roses, it helps to have a bit of a rant. As always, all rants and raves and moans and groans represent my own views. Hundreds of far less negative running blogs are available. At some stage I’m going to share all my favourite running bloggers**

Good morning or afternoon if my blog is still causing me issues. I hope that whoever reads my latest set of rants and raves is having a fab – sorry Mrs Sawbridge – week. Hopefully by the time this masterpiece is published I’ll be enjoying a hydraulic theory training course. Without further ado, here is my latest selection of rants and raves. Apologies for the repeat rants and raves!

Rave: Sutton Park parkrun

Without sounding overly dramatic, Sutton Park parkrun has helped me in so many ways, I doubt that I’ll ever be able to repay the core team. Volunteering each Saturday gives me a reason to get out of bed. Volunteering each Saturday has introduced me to some amazing people. Volunteering each Saturday has pushed me out of my comfort zone.

My original aim was to each 25 volunteering stints by the end of this year. This Saturday, I’ll volunteer for the 20^th time – I’m timekeeping and token sorting – so I’m definitely on target. I’m not going to stop pulling on the hi-vis when I become a member of what I’ve always called the ‘purple club’. Saturdays are generally rest days, so there’s no reason for me not to volunteer.

There’s also the small matter of the badges I still need to collect!

Rant: Unpredictable weather

I think it‘s safe to say the weather has been a little mixed recently. When I was in Wallingford a couple of weeks ago, it was so warm I was able to enjoy a couple of post-work pints outside next to the River Thames. It felt more like summer than mid September.

The following week, it was so wet I got drenched during my 15 minute walk to the train station and had to spend the day with slightly wet feet. On at least two days I don’t think it’s got properly light all day.

As a runner, the unpredictable weather makes knowing what to wear a tad tricky. Since starting my Couch to Half training I’ve either worn too many layers and I’ve overheated, or too few layers and have struggled to get warm.

I suspect I’m one of the few runners who is looking forward to some consistently cold weather. I’ve got several pairs of running tights I’m yet to wear on a run.

Rave: the Virtual Volunteer parkrun app

I’ve used the ‘traditional’ stopwatch and barcode scanner and can honestly say that using the Virtual Volunteer parkrun app is far, far easier.  And no, I’ve not been asked by parkrun HQ to write this, I personally found scanning barcodes quite stressful.

Just a word of caution, if you’re using the timekeeping function, your phone screen may well be incredibly sensitive. I may have ended up with a ‘phantom’ finisher in second place. Luckily I spotted what had happened and the error was easy to rectify.

Rant: My new and improved(?) blog

A few people have commented on my new blog, thanks for all of your feedback. I spent a lot of time weighing up the pros and cons of going self-hosted. One day, I decided that I’d had enough of the irritating adverts at the top of my blog. The adverts were getting more and more what I’d describe as a little dubious, so I decided to take the plunge and booked in a time and date for my blog to be migrated.

I spent a lot of time researching new blog themes, trying to work out how I wanted my blog to look etc etc. At the moment it’s feeling like all of my research was wasted. I’m really struggling to get to grips with my new theme and I feel like I’m constantly having to ask the lovely people at Lyrical Host stupid questions.

I guess I need to remind myself that I blog for fun and that I already have a full-time job!

Rave: Running

This is meant to be a running blog so I thought I’d briefly mention running! After a slightly challenging start to the year – writing my review of 2019 is going to be entertaining – I’m finally starting to enjoy pulling on my trainers again. My fitness levels are still virtually non-existent and I’m guilty of comparing my current training to sessions from this time last year. However, I am enjoying my running again. I’ve got everything crossed that by being sensible I’ll make it to the end of my 20-week Couch to Half Marathon training plan.

After months of severe race related FOMO, I’m looking forward to completing a couple of local 10k events in Sutton Park before the end of the year. I can’t end 2019 with only one medal!

Rant: Commuting in Birmingham

Commuting in Birmingham has introduced me to some delightful characters. I never really felt scared when I commuted in London. I have done in Birmingham and I’ve seen some quite frightening behaviour on the 6:22am train from Blake Street to Birmingham. When I started commuting, I thought that by travelling early each morning I’d manage to avoid anti-social behaviour. I was wrong, and have now been on three trains which been met by the BTP at Birmingham and I know there will be more.

I’m not looking forward to the German Market opening. This will no doubt increase the number of drunk people in the centre of Birmingham and on trains. Hopefully I’ll manage to avoid ‘unwell’ people this year. I had a couple of near misses last year and have heard a few horror stories. I’ve also got the infamous leaf fall timetable to look forward to.

Rave: My bank

This is probably one of my most random raves yet, but I feel that I need to say thanks to my bank. Last week, I tried to sponsor a work colleague and wasn’t able to due to a ‘card error’. I used my credit card and carried on with my day. Later on the same day I tried to enter a half marathon. This time I got a ‘card declined’ message which was slightly more concerning as I knew I had more than enough funds in my current account.

I logged into my online banking and everything looked normal and I recognised all of the transactions. I started a chat session with the bank and was told my account had been frozen and I needed to contact the fraud department.

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After a slightly surreal conversation which left me with no idea why my account had been frozen, I was told a new debit card had been ordered for me and that I needed to move some money from my current account into a savings account. Although not having a card for a few days was an inconvenience, I’m pleased my bank stopped my debit card before it was used to buy a holiday or someone else’s C****mas shopping.

Rant: The C-word

I don’t mean the naughty c-word but the other c-word; C****mas! I swear my local Co-op has had a selection of festive themed treats on sale since the beginning of September. It’s too soon! I think sales of festive treats should be ‘banned’ until after Halloween.

And don’t get me started on Halloween. I’m looking forward to having to pretend I’m not at home, sitting at home with all the lights turned off is great fun.

Rave: My Reflect 360 women’s running gilet

This year, I’ve been trying to cut down the amount of running gear I buy. However, when I saw someone running in the most amazing reflective gilet, I knew I had to buy myself one. I justified my purchase by telling myself I do most of my training in the dark and that the standard of driving in Four Oaks is pretty dire.

So I did a spot of googling, read some reviews and treated myself to one of these Proviz reflective gilets.

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The gilet was quite expensive but I can already tell it’s going to be an essential piece of winter running kit. Judging by the complaint I received from a driver – apparently the top is “a distraction” – it definitely works.

Rave: Slightly Obscure 80s music

And finally, a sneaky bonus rave. If you like listening to obscure 80s new wave music then this is the playlist for you.

Once again, if you’ve managed to make it to the end of my latest random selection of rants and raves, thank you!! I decided not to include my rants about unreliable people and people who take more than they give. Perhaps I will next time I share my moans and groans. Anyway, I hope that my rants and raves were reasonable and I’ve made at least one person smile.

My friend has just informed me she’s completed all of her C****mas shopping! Are you organised or do you tend to leave your C****mas shopping until the last minute? I like to think I’m reasonably organised but suspect that I’m not really.

Do you have any winter running kit essentials? I can tell my reflective gilet is going to get a lot of use this winter. This is a good thing as I need to get the ‘cost per wear’ calculation looking more respectable!

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